What to do with ice block?

[pikerliker]

I am going to get into spearing for pike probably in the next year or so. I have a question regarding the ice block that you take out to open the hole. I have heard people say don't leave the block on the ice so a snowmobile doesn't smash into it. I have also heard people say never push the ice block under the ice. Which is it? What is generally considered the safe or accepted thing to do with the ice block?

[cavalierowner]

The last time I speared was back when it was legal to spear on Lake Minnetonka, so a LOT of years ago! The thinking back then among the people I knew was that if you were going to move the spear house and there was an open hole, push the block back in the spear hole AND put a very small tree branch (actually more of a twig than a branch!) ih the hole so it stuck up and was visible. The open hole was as much a concern for someone stepping into it as it was a snowmobile hitting a block. And whenever I moved my house and the hole was froze over, I just marked the block again with a small branch. Used to see a lot of branches out on the ice!

[hawkeye43]

Another thing you could do is chisel the block into smaller pieces, you still would want to mark the hole with a branch. I had a large block I couldn't lift out so I push it down and out of the hole. I gave it a good shove to move it away. Later I went to drill a tip-up hole about 60' away, I drilled into the block that I pushed away. They do slide a long ways under the ice.

[JakeJ_Mn]

I haven't speared in years, but when I did I always pushed the ice blocks back in the hole and marked them with a twig and some orange flagging tape.

Three years ago, driving on a small local lake I found an unmarked spearing hole with my truck. I was driving slow, but never saw the hole. My drivers side front tire dropped in and I was stuck. It was scary at first not knowing what exactly was happening.

I had 2 of my grandkids with and they were very upset, which bothered me more than the nearly $1,000 damage to the front end and wheel area.

Please always take the time to mark your spearing hole. Thanks.

[mwal]

I either put blocks back in and mark well with branches or push it under and mark well with branches. It depends on location and traffic of the area. If I am on a busy lake I will always put block in and mark as it may freeze quicker. If more remote or I can't lift block out I may push block under shovel a little snow in to make sure my marker's stay up right. Never leave blocks on the ice I had a friend severely damage his snowmobile hitting one that was not marked and covered in snow. He was very luck to have a full face helmet on as he went over the handle bars hitting the windshield with his chin and face. Luckily he was just shaken up. Always bust up block if you see them left above the ice.

Mwal